Bob Dylan
1979 FROGS CRAWLING ACROSS YOUR STREETS – THE FIRST GOSPEL TOUR
Pink Panther Records
Much has been written about Bob’s transition into Christianity, & you can read some of these views below. In terms of the music, 1979 was a strong year in terms of performance, but with only 26 concerts & one TV appearance, it was a short one.
Not counting the Queens Of Rhythm songs without Bob, we have 19 new songs,including the Slow Train Coming ones released on 20 August 1979, & more surprisingly most of the Saved album songs, which would not even be recorded until February 1980.
Setlists are quite static (but not entirely so), but this does not mean that the concerts sound the same.
The Slow Train Coming album, recorded in April & May 1979, is rich & lush due in no small part to Mark Knopfler. It is one of Bob’s best sounding albums – light years away from the raw sound of Street Legal, which preceded it.
However, the first public outing of three Slow Train Coming songs on Saturday Night Live in NY on 20 October were even rawer than Street Legal.
When the concerts began in San Francisco in early November, the sounds sounded measured & sparse,as if the band was playing slowly & carefully because it was still learning to play them.There were no “gospel rants” (let’s call them sermons) in early November.
However, starting with the last San Francisco concert on 16 November, everything changed – Bob let rip. The music changed from black & white to technicolor, & the sermons started.
The late November & early December concerts are confrontational with the audience, but the music soars. As drummer Jim Keltner has commented, on occasions Bob seemed to levitate of the floor!
1979 Santa Monica is without doubt one of Bob’s all-time great residencies, & all five of them are available on great sound.
You can love or hate what Bob is doing, but there is no doubt that he is sincere about it.
Scary stuff.
FLAC from best available sound sources.
Statistics for this compilation (yes, lies, damn lies & statistics masquerading as facts)
63 ball-tearing, sensational tracks19 different songs12 sermons13 concerts & 1 TV appearance are represented here (from the total of 26 concerts & 1 TV appearance)5 hours & 13 minutes of music & sermons1 bob
All songs played on the tour leg are represented here.Sound quality is, for the most part, very good to excellent.
NBC Studios
New York City, New York
20 October 1979
Saturday Night Live
- Gotta Serve Somebody
2.I Believe In You
3. When You Gonna Wake Up
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, California
1 November 1979
04. Saving Grace
05. In The Garden
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, California
3 November 1979
06. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
07. What Can I Do For You?
08. Saved (Bob Dylan/Tim Drummond)
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, California
7 November 1979
09. Gotta Serve Somebody
10. I Believe In You
11. When You Gonna Wake Up?
12. When He Returns
13. Man Gave Names To All The Animals
14. Covenant Woman
15. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
16. Saving Grace
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, California
9 November 1979
17. Pressing On
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco
California16 November 1979
18. When He Returns
19. Precious Angel
20. Slow Train
21. Covenant Woman
22. Ain’t No Man Righteous, No Not One
23. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
24. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
25. Solid Rock
26. Saving Grace
27. Saved (Bob Dylan/Tim Drummond)
28. What Can I Do For You?
29. In The Garden
30. Blessed Be The Name
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, California
18 November 1979
31. Gotta Serve Somebody
32. I Believe In You
33. Man Gave Names To All The Animals
34. Precious Angel
35. Slow Train Sermon
36. Slow Train
37. Covenant Woman
38. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
39. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
40. What Can I Do For You?
41. Pressing On
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, California
19 November 1979
42. I Believe In You
43. When You Gonna Wake Up Sermon
44. When You Gonna Wake Up
45. Solid Rock Sermon46.Solid Rock
47. Saving Grace
48. In The Garden
49. Blessed Be The Name Sermon
50. Blessed Be The Name
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, California
21 November 1979
54. Covenant Woman
Gammage Center
Tempe, Arizona
25 November 1979
55. Slow Train Sermon
Gammage Center
Tempe, Arizona
26 November 1979
56. When You Gonna Wake Up Sermon
57. Solid Rock Sermon
Golden Hall
San Diego, California
27 November 1979
58. Slow Train Sermon
59. In The Garden Sermon
Kiva Auditorium
Convention Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
5 December 1979
60. Slow Train Sermon
61. Slow Train
62. God Uses Ordinary People
63. God Uses Ordinary People
Rock on, Bob!
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